When they reached the pile of clothes he turned around to give her privacy as she shifted back to her human form. She didn’t sense anyone else in the immediate vicinity so she didn’t mind being naked. The change was fast and part of her didn’t want to put clothes on. Especially as she stared at his sculpted backside. She inwardly chastised herself. He was being perfectly polite and giving her privacy and she was ogling him like some lovesick teenager. Being naked around him sounded like a lot more fun than being clothed, but she tugged on the plain green T-shirt that left a good three inches of her stomach bare and a pair of drawstring lounge pants.

Rainer turned just as she put on her pants. Those startling green eyes of his seemed to practically glimmer as he raked them over her in a very appreciative sweep. When his gaze landed on her face, the look in his eyes scorched her. Her nipples instinctively reacted, pulling into hard buds.

Despite the cool April breeze whistling around them she felt as if she could combust on the spot. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling nervous. “Do you think the vampires followed us this far?”

He shook his head. “They won’t venture into my pack’s territory. Besides, two of my brothers and a few more pack mates are out patrolling.”

“Oh.” She had a lot more questions but couldn’t formulate a single one into an actual sentence.

“I want you so bad I can’t think straight,” he practically growled, the bewilderment on his face and in his voice mirroring her own insides.

Her eyes widened at his bluntness, especially since he seemed almost surprised he’d admitted it. She felt the same way. She hadn’t taken a lover in years so this searing need for Rainer had taken her by surprise. “I want you, too,” she finally whispered.

She did want him. Bad. After what they’d just run from she was pumped up on adrenaline and the thought of losing herself with the sexiest man she’d ever met felt like the best decision in the world.

Too many emotions twirled through her and when his gaze landed on her lips, she knew she was about to do something she might regret. She didn’t care though. In a flash of movement she started to cover the distance but he was faster.

Rainer’s hands settled on her hips as he tugged her close. His mouth landed on hers, his tongue immediately invading her mouth. His kisses weren’t gentle or sweet. Nothing like the tender brush of his lips from earlier.

Right now he was taking and claiming.

The thought of being claimed by this male made the warmth between her legs spark into full-blown heat. The last man she’d been with had been in college years ago and he’d been human and fragile. Nothing like Rainer.

She wanted to let loose. To be free. To be herself for once.

Grabbing her hips, Rainer hoisted her up so that she had to wrap her legs around his waist. His erection pressed against her core and she couldn’t help but rub against him. Even though he was wearing thin pants, the friction against her clit made her buck harder against him.

He chuckled against her mouth and pulled back slightly as he strode into the cave. “I’ve wanted to do this from the moment I saw you wearing that black dress and those fuck-me heels. I wanted to take you right on the floor of the art show and I didn’t care who was watching.”

The image that evoked made her face flame. Since she didn’t trust her voice, she grappled with his shirt and tugged upward. Raising his arms, he let her take it off. Her throat tightened as she got to see his body up close and know she was about to put her hands all over him.

All those defined lines and striations. Unable to stop herself she leaned forward and nipped his hard skin. She kissed a path across his chest until she reached one nipple. Drawing it between her teeth she pressed down until he shuddered.

Her legs were still wrapped around him and she was vaguely aware of him moving them, then kneeling on something soft.

She looked up for a brief moment and realized they were on a quilt—no, sleeping bag. Whatever it was, she didn’t care. She just wanted more of this mysterious man. And she desperately wanted to feel him inside her.

Pushing up on her knees, she straddled him, sinking deeper against his body and he practically tore her shirt off. A shiver stole through her as his hungry gaze landed on her breasts.

Before she realized his intent, she was flat on her back and his mouth was on her breast. He sucked, hard. Her back arched off the ground as he tugged her already hard nipple between his teeth.

A rush of warmth flooded between her legs as he cupped her other breast. He tenderly caressed it while he ran his thumb over her nipple in teasing flicks. The simultaneous yet opposite actions of his gentle hand and rougher mouth against her breasts made her moan in pleasure.

She clutched his head as she squeezed her legs around his waist. Feeling his hard length pressing against her lower abdomen wasn’t enough. She wanted all of him.

Despite having a human best friend and her deceased adoptive parents, she’d felt isolated for so long. Having to pretend her entire life she wasn’t a shifter had been difficult. Not around Rainer. She could completely be herself with him and it was refreshing. Her inner walls clenched with the need to be filled by him.

As if he read her mind, he slid his hand down the front of her pants. There was no teasing. He cupped her mound and slid two fingers inside her wet sheath. The abrupt action had her rolling her hips against him.

She let out a strangled sound as he dragged his fingers against her inner wall. Surprising her, he kept his strokes gentle and slow. Almost too slow.

When he raised his head to look at her, she tunneled her fingers farther back through his hair, loving the silky feel. “Tell me something about yourself,” he demanded in a low voice.

She blinked, unsure she’d heard right. Her inner walls clenched around his fingers in desperation as he slowed even more. She needed him to move faster. “Now?” she rasped out.

He buried his fingers completely inside her and rested his thumb right on her clit, but then stilled his movements.

“I hate avocados,” she blurted, feeling silly but so turned on with no release that she wanted to scream.

Rainer grinned and it completely softened his face. A tiny dimple appeared on his left cheek, giving him a boyish quality. Looking supremely satisfied with himself, he resumed stroking his fingers inside her, this time with urgency.

She let her head fall back and when he began rubbing his thumb over her clit she lost it.

Growling low in his throat, he sucked her breast into his mouth again and tugged her nipple in that almost-but-not-quite painful way. She let out a silent scream as her orgasm surged through her.

It was sharp and fast and had her grasping on to his shoulders in a fruitless effort to ground herself. The orgasm just kept going, punching through her and stealing her breath until she limply fell against the sleeping bag.

As her orgasm faded, Rainer finally withdrew his hand and tugged her pants off. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he growled in that deep, intoxicating voice she craved. “And your scent—it’s like you’ve drugged me with it.”

Something warm blossomed inside her at his words. Estrella reached for him, eager to take his pants off too, but he beat her to it.

Her eyes widened when she finally saw his cock. And not just a glimpse of it like earlier. Seeing it up close and personal made her shudder in primal awareness. The man was certainly proportional everywhere. Then she remembered...”Condom?”

He froze, looking at her in curiosity. “You’re not in heat.”

She blinked, uncertain of his meaning. Since she’d turned sixteen, she went through an unbelievably painful week twice a year where she was sexually frustrated and almost nothing could ease her. “You mean those are the only times I can get pregnant?”

He nodded, his frown increasing, probably because he was surprised she didn’t know more about shifters. “And we can’t get diseases,” he said quietly.

Clearly she had a lot more to learn about shifter life but right now she knew all she needed to. Sitting up, she reached for him but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head as they tumbled back onto the softness. She squirmed, trying to get him to push inside her but he remained firm.

Those pale green eyes had turned dark and smoky as he watched her. Under his gaze her breathing increased, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Why aren’t you moving?” she whispered, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“I don’t take lovers lightly.” His voice was raspy, almost edgy.

“Me neither.” It had been almost five years for her, but she didn’t plan to tell him that.

“Good.” There he went again with that growl. The sound was so sexy her inner walls clenched.

“And...I’ve never been with a shifter before.” She felt like she needed to tell him something more about herself. Something personal.

His eyes flashed darker for a moment, then a purely masculine smile covered his face as he captured her mouth again.

Still keeping her wrists captive, Rainer reversed their bodies, moving so that Estrella was on top. He wanted to see every inch of her as she rode him. The most primitive part of him scoffed, wanting to ride her hard and claim her. But not this first time.

She needed to feel as safe as possible with him. Though it killed him, he could give up control. Hell, he could do anything for this woman.

Something inside him had flared to life the moment he’d met her. Deep down he knew it was the mating call. He didn’t want to believe it, but his inner wolf wanted her and would accept no other. Ever. Considering they still needed to learn a lot about each other, he planned to make sure this first time together was done right. He wanted to give her so much pleasure she’d never want to be without him.

“Ride me, sweetheart.” He let her wrists drop and was thankful when she immediately pushed up on his chest and straddled his waist.

Her lips were glossy and slightly swollen as she watched him. Keeping her eyes on him, she raised up and lowered herself over his cock. She let out a long, satisfied breath as she sat fully on him.

Unable to control himself, he thrust inside her. She was so tight, it would take all his self-control not to come before she climaxed again. And he’d make damn sure she did. He wanted to see that blissful expression on her face again.